Aztecs Don’t Regret Tough Schedule : Football: Short week between BYU, USC games necessary to bring in TV exposure.

As San Diego State prepares to embark upon the most difficult schedule in school history, and with pressure for success never higher because of the school’s tight budget, Athletic Director Fred Miller said he has no second thoughts about an early season schedule that resembles one that nearly crushed the Aztecs in 1991.

SDSU will play its biggest Western Athletic Conference game, at Brigham Young, on Thursday night, Sept. 10--only five days after what will probably be a physical, punishing opener against USC.

The quirk in the schedule is courtesy of an agreement between the SDSU, BYU and ESPN, which will televise the game nationally.

Last fall, Miller also agreed to play on a Thursday. Five days after being banged up in a 21-20 loss to Air Force, the crippled Aztecs were slaughtered by UCLA, 37-12.

“Last year, UCLA had a bye in front of our game,” Miller said. “This year, Brigham Young is on the road for their opener (at Texas El Paso) and we’re at home. We both have the same number of practice sessions.

“Who knows? We might even practice on Sunday.”

BYU, run by the Mormon church, does not allow athletic events or practices on Sunday.

Miller emphasized that, because SDSU has not yet established itself in the college football world and because of the paydays, the school will be happy to entertain the whims of network executives.

“If anybody says, ‘Would you play on Thursday?’ the answer is, ‘Yes,’ ” Miller said. “If they ask, ‘Can you play on Saturday?’ the answer is, ‘Yes.’ If they ask, ‘Can you play on Monday or Tuesday?’ the answer is, ‘Yes.’

“When you look at the hierarchy, San Diego State is still the new kid on the block. We’re going to say yes to a lot of things. It’s part of growing up.

“We were on five national or regional (network) telecasts last year. That saved our collective fanny. Ten years from now, we may ask whether a team has a bye in front of us.”

Going into today’s final intrasquad scrimmage--it’s closed to the public--here is an unofficial depth chart (first-team members listed first):

OFFENSE

Quarterback--David Lowery, Tim Gutierrez, Billy Blanton.

Tailback--Marshall Faulk, Wayne Pittman, Larry Maxey.

H-back--Ray Peterson, DeAndre Maxwell, Larry Maxey.

Flanker--Keith Williams, Curtis Shearer.

Split End--Darnay Scott, Jake Nyberg.

Tight End--Marc Ziegler, Alex Semenik.

Weak Tackle--Tony Nichols.

Weak Guard--Joe Heinz.

Center--Mike Alexander.

Strong Guard--Carlson Leomiti.

Strong Tackle--Chris Finch.

Kicker--Andy Trakas.

Note: Because of several injuries, the second-team offensive line is still too patch-work to call.

DEFENSE

Defensive End--Ty Morrison, Steve Matuszewicz.

Nose Tackle--Sebastian Glaze, Turaj Smith.

Defensive End--Jamal Duff, George Glaze.

Outside Linebacker--Terrill Steen or Tracey Mao.

Middle Linebacker--Mark Roberts, Mike Burns.

Outside Linebacker--Chad Provensal, Shawn Smith.

Dimeback--Robert Griffith, Sam Williford.

Cornerback--Gary Taylor, Eric Sutton.

Cornerback--Damon Pieri, John Louis.

Strong Safety--Chris Johnson, Darrell Lewis.

Free Safety--Darrell Lewis, Leonard Jones.

Punter--Scott Oatsvall.

Although the Aztecs do not intend to announce until next week which freshmen will redshirt, it is anticipated that these five will play this season:

--La’Roi Glover, a 6 feet 2, 275-pound defensive lineman from Point Loma High. Only 18, he is one of the most physical players SDSU has.

--Freddie Edwards, a 5-11, 170-pound defensive back from Antelope Valley High. The Aztecs need help in the defensive secondary. Also, Edwards has been working on the punt return team.

--Adrian Ioja, a 6-2, 230-pound tight end from Garden Grove. SDSU sends plays in with its tight ends and likes to have three or four players in the rotation. And with the loss of Ray Rowe, this position is a question mark.

--Leonard Jones, a 6-0, 175-pound defensive back from Carver High in New Orleans (Marshall Faulk’s high school). Like Faulk a year ago, Aztec coaches are impressed with his maturity.

--Micheal Driver, a 6-3, 185-pound defensive back from Point Loma High. As we mentioned, the Aztecs need help in the defensive backfield.

Also, some Aztec coaches think that Billy Blanton, a 6-0, 195-pounder from Antelope Valley High, could unseat Tim Gutierrez as David Lowery’s back-up. The Aztecs held him out of practice Wednesday because of a sore arm but expect him to play in today’s intrasquad scrimmage. A decision on whether to redshirt him will come after SDSU coaches assess his scrimmage.

Otherwise, all other freshmen are expected to redshirt.

Faulk the Celebrity: This week’s visitors to SDSU to interview Faulk include the New York Times, Boston Globe, Dallas Morning News, Chicago Tribune, The Sporting News, CNN and Prime Ticket.

The Aztecs were saddened to hear that their former teammate, Patrick Rowe, will miss the NFL season with a knee injury. Rowe, a third-round pick by Cleveland, underwent surgery on Wednesday.

“That’s a bad deal,” receiver Keith Williams said. “I just saw him on TV last week. It’s kind of weird for that to happen.”

Although freshman Peter Holt is kicking well in practice, SDSU Coach Al Luginbill said the kicking job still belongs to Andy Trakas. . . . SDSU will work on all aspect of its kicking game in today’s scrimmage as well as do some overall fine-tuning. “What I call preventative mistakes,” Luginbill said. “No offsides, face-masks or sloppy penalties.” . . . Linebacker Mark Roberts wrenched his neck in practice Tuesday and was held out Wednesday. He is expected to scrimmage today. . . . SDSU will begin preparations for USC tonight.

The big news around the Western Athletic Conference, as usual, is BYU. The Cougars are featured in Sports Illustrated’s college football issue, out this week, in a story entitled “Clean, Sober and Insufferable.”

The magazine reports that, around the nation, BYU is perceived as being racially biased and “loathed for its holier-than-thou attitude as well as for its relentless success.” The magazine also quotes a former New Mexico defensive back as saying that BYU players taunt blacks.

A BYU spokesperson called the story “mean-spirited and anti-religious.”

In other WAC news, Texas El Paso will open the season Sept. 5 against BYU with sophomore Shwan Gray at quarterback. Last year’s starter, Mike Perez, has tendinitis in his throwing arm and has missed 19 of 21 practices.